Ottawa’s most trusted and reliable moving company

Local Ottawa Moving Rates

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Premier moving services in Ottawa

How Much Will Your Ottawa
Move Cost?

This will depend on when you are moving and the size of the move which determines the size of the crew.
Our base rates are $55 per hour for a truck (including equipment, fuel, insurance) and $60 per hour per mover. For example, the rate for a crew of 2 movers and a truck would be $175 per hour at our base rates. 

Typically, we would recommend a crew of 2 movers and a truck for moves smaller than a 1.5 bedroom apartment. We would recommend 3 movers and a truck for moving a 2-3 bedroom apartment or house. 

Larger moves may require multiple trucks and/or trailers.

As we only use full-time employees (no part-timers or day labour), we always try to put enough movers on the crew to get the job done in less than an 8-hour day. This is done to be fair to our employees since they have to work the next morning and some have families to get home to. It is also better for the customer since they are paying by the hour and get less value for their money the longer the day goes. Minimum charges are figured on a case by case basis.

Why You Can Rely On Us

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Book Your Service Easily

Easy, stress-free booking process that locks in your moving date and gives you a transparent estimate of moving costs in Ottawa.

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Receive Ongoing Support

The First Rate Movers care team is here to serve you - before, during and after your move. We value good communication!

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Satisfaction Guaranteed

First Rate Movers is committed to providing you with exceptional service. We aren't happy unless you are satisfied.

Charges & Fees for Ottawa Moving

** All rates include $1,000,000 Replacement-Value Insurance (Less than 1% of moving companies offer this) **

Rates increase during peak periods including Fridays, Saturdays, and month-end. We are closed for all statutory holidays and most holiday long weekends.

Local Moves – Add 1-hour charge for travel time at the contracted rate unless otherwise stated. This charge covers the cost of the crew travelling to the place of origin and back to the office from the destination (30 minutes each way). This charge will be higher when travelling to or from outlying cities or towns.

Local Long Distance Moves – For moves within Ontario with at least one address that is more than 100 kilometers outside of Ottawa, there will be a flat rate travel charge which includes driving time, mileage, and fuel, as well as food and lodging. This is a very reliable way to get an estimate for an out of town move as the only variable remaining is the labour to load and unload the truck. There are no surprises like fuel surcharges or charges for being over the estimated weight (very common in the moving industry).

All full-service local moves include $1,000,000 of full replacement-value cargo insurance coverage (see details). Only the very best moving companies can afford the risk of offering this kind of coverage. Most moving companies can only provide basic insurance coverage of 0.60 per pound or pseudo-insurance policies such as protection plans or valuation coverage due to higher rates/risks of damage.

The relocation of over-sized, over-weight, or high-risk items such as pianos, pool tables, and large aquariums will usually be subject to surcharges, especially where stairs are involved. Surcharges will also apply in cases where entranceways and stairwells are too small to allow passage and furniture must be hoisted up the outside of the building to upper levels. These surcharges are to cover the increased risks on our insurance and on our employees.

Sometimes the contents of the home must be stored in the truck overnight. This can occur when the closing on a new home is delayed and the crew can’t unload at the new location until the following day. In such cases, overnight storage equal to one hour at the contracted rate will be charged to cover the increased risk on our insurance. An additional travel charge for the second day would also apply.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT CASH. The Driver will accept payment by debit or credit card upon completion of the move. Full receipts will be provided. Invoicing is available at 30-day terms to government departments or for contracted / ongoing services provided to corporate clients. At their discretion, drivers may request payment before unloading the truck in situations where they feel there could be an issue receiving payment. This option is usually only exercised when loading rental trucks or self-storage units as we may never see such clients again.

An administrative fee of $200 is charged for booking local moves or $500 for booking long-distance moves (any move starting or ending more than 100km from Ottawa City Hall). This fee covers costs associated with scheduling your move as well as any discounts or special pricing that may have been offered to other parties based on your commitment to using our services (ie. Consolidated/back-haul moves). It will be applied as a credit against your final bill for moving services but is non-refundable and will be forfeited should you choose to cancel or postpone your scheduled move date. An additional cancellation fee equal to half of the minimum charge will apply should you cancel/postpone your booking within 15 days of your scheduled move date or the full minimum charge if cancellation is made within 72 hours of the scheduled start time of the move. Cancellation fees may be fully or partially waived, at the discretion of management, in cases where the customer is rescheduling their move for a later date. Any request to cancel or postpone a booking must be made by email. We will not accept requests to alter or cancel a booking over the phone.